Stop the Run!

John813 said:
The Colts had 55 rushing yards in the first half and the score was 0-10
To start the second half, their first drive they had 56 rushing yards to make the game 0-17.
111 yards in the first 34 minutes of the game.
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Please don’t ruin the fantasy world for @QuincyCarterEra
 
stasheroo said:
There are none so blind as those who will not see.

You twist and contort to find any reason other than the one staring you in the face.
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There is one stat geek and several blind followers who have predetermined the the timing game is useless and no reasoning will convince them otherwise

They would be fine replacing Zeke with an average RB
 
stasheroo said:
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
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Says the guy saying injuries and the Rookie Wall don't exist.

In 2016 and 2017 we went 22 - 10 when our entire offensive scheme was "GONNA RUN ZEKE AND MAYBE PASS TO DEZ, IF THAT BREAKS DOWN WITTEN GETS 4 YARDS".

And we went 22-10 with a Magic 8 Ball calling plays.
 
Kaiser said:
Says the guy saying injuries and the Rookie Wall don't exist.

In 2016 and 2017 we went 22 - 10 when our entire offensive scheme was "GONNA RUN ZEKE AND MAYBE PASS TO DEZ, IF THAT BREAKS DOWN WITTEN GETS 4 YARDS".

And we went 22-10 with a Magic 8 Ball calling plays.
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None of which has anything whatsoever to do with what we've been talking about. I'm not getting diverted.
 
stasheroo said:
While I feel very encouraged about the relatively strong finish and the player talent assembled on this team, as well as the change at offensive coordinator, one thing still has me concerned, the team's run defense.

For the most part, that area was strong and in most of their games, they stopped the run very effectively. But when they didn't? It essentially guaranteed a loss.

Take a look at the game-by-game results from 2018:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2018.htm

One of the best indicators of whether the game was a win or a loss can be seen in the rushing yards they gave up. With two exceptions - one a one point victory and the other an overtime loss - the line between a win and a loss was 100 yards rushing. Versus the Texans, the Cowboys did hold them to under 100 yards (88), but the game ultimately came down to a coaching decision. Versus the Giants, the Cowboys offense was able to rally for that 'miracle' pass and catch at the back of the endzone to capture that victory. The exceptions to the 'rule'.

But in all other cases, it was dictated by that 100-yard mark. If the Cowboys gave up less? They won. More than 100? and it was an 'L'.

And I don't think anyone can forget the two biggest defeats:

First to Indianapolis when it seemed like nobody even got off the bus, where they gave up 178 yards rushing. (bonus points if you can tell everyone exactly who it was that ran over them!)

And secondly, and most importantly, giving up 273 yards rushing in the playoff loss to the Rams, who claimed that they knew what the Cowboys would do "90% of the time".

Objective number one has to be to eliminate whatever tips and tells allowed the Rams to so thoroughly dominate your defensive line. If that isn't done, it won't matter what players they have on the field. Time for some self-scouting gentlemen! But objective two should be making sure that their run defense gets tightened up, and that it is made a higher priority for the 'Rushmen' on their way to all of these sacks that never seem to happen.

I am of the opinion that Marinelli had the defensive line stunting more than usual in an effort to improve the interior pressure that wasn't getting there otherwise. And I think that teams caught on to that change and ultimately made the Cowboys pay for it when it mattered most.

But for as much optimism as I have in many other areas, run defense remains among my biggest concerns. And the numbers show that when we can stop the run, we can win, and when we can't, we can't.
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I think it was two maybe three seasons ago we were with number one against the Run. The defensive line would stop pause make sure wasn't a run and then attack the quarterback. I think with these new defensive tackles we can get that bulrush so I'm not sure what scheme this defensive unit will play. Stop the run or get to the quarterback. I think we're capable of doing either great. I just don't think we're great at doing both at the same time. That's why I like Sean Lee out there
 
Whirlwin said:
I think it was two maybe three seasons ago we were with number one against the Run. The defensive line would stop pause make sure wasn't a run and then attack the quarterback. I think with these new defensive tackles we can get that bulrush so I'm not sure what scheme this defensive unit will play. Stop the run or get to the quarterback. I think we're capable of doing either great. I just don't think we're great at doing both at the same time. That's why I like Sean Lee out there
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I honestly think that we got "cute" at times last year, and sacrificed run defense integrity in favor of stunts to try to free up pass rushers who wouldn't get there otherwise.

Take one of my favorite targets of criticism, Tyrone Crawford. I won't go into all of my issues with that player here, but suffice to say that every one of the sacks he managed last year was the result of scheme and trickery, stunts. None of them came as a direct result of Crawford beating the man in front of him on his own.

Marinelli and the defensive line became too reliant on those stunts and ultimately had them used against them when they were telegraphing their intentions through a pattern of 'tells'.

The Rams figured that out and killed them with it.
 
Whirlwin said:
I think it was two maybe three seasons ago we were with number one against the Run. The defensive line would stop pause make sure wasn't a run and then attack the quarterback. I think with these new defensive tackles we can get that bulrush so I'm not sure what scheme this defensive unit will play. Stop the run or get to the quarterback. I think we're capable of doing either great. I just don't think we're great at doing both at the same time. That's why I like Sean Lee out there
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That was when we had stalwart T McClain at NT in 2016.

However, since we were 26th vs the pass, the #1 rushing ranking was most likely a bit misleading.
 
visionary said:
There is one stat geek and several blind followers who have predetermined the the timing game is useless and no reasoning will convince them otherwise

They would be fine replacing Zeke with an average RB
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No, didn't say that, I said a good back, I do not recall anyone saying average back. I do not think any team needs a 15M RB with a highly paid OL......and QB and WR and DE.
 
Got some teams in the division that will need to run and with Barkley, Guice, Howard and Clement in the division, stopping the run is still job 1. Add to that some other teams that will need to run outside the division.

Stats do no tell the entire story against the run. A team can barely break 100 but get enough first downs to do their damage. Can a D consistently stop the run? Can a D get the stop when they have to stop a drive?

One game does not represent a season.
 
CouchCoach said:
No, didn't say that, I said a good back, I do not recall anyone saying average back. I do not think any team needs a 15M RB with a highly paid OL......and QB and WR and DE.
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But talking about you buddy
There are plenty on this site who think that and they know who they are
 
QuincyCarterEra said:
Rushing yards against is more of an effect of a loss than the cause of a loss.
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You beat me to it. When a team like the Colts gets up on you by two touchdowns, they run the ball more. It’s a result of being behind in the game.

Conversely, when you jump ahead on an opponent they can’t run the ball anymore (unless you’re Pete Carroll and you beat your head against the wall like he did in that playoff game) because you have to throw to get back in the game.

Regardless, one thing that will help this year is more bodies on the defensive line. I liked last years d-line but I love this year’s d-line. Also, in obvious running situations you’ll have Lee, LVE and Jaylon all on the field at the same time.
 
stasheroo said:
And it's noticeable how those people that usually bang that drum have avoided these facts like the plague.
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I think passing game is very important and has been since the pass was introduced to the game but I have watched this game long enough to know that a strong running game can physically wear down a defense and can slow down the pass rush considerably.
 
stasheroo said:
Sorry, but no it was not.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...sive-line-was-going-to-do-over-90-of-the-time

The biggest issue was a coaching one, not a player one.
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This right here!!! People be a prisoners of the moment, the Rams oline knew where we were going which lead to the crazy rushing totals. Why would the Rams formulate a plan to run against a defense that just shutdown the best run team in the league (Seattle) the weekm prior? They knew that the Cowboys had "tells" that they could exploit, that's just being out coached.

In the Colts game that was a typical letdown game, when I used to gamble one of the things was to bet against a team playing on the road against a non conference opponent after a division game win and that was the Cowboys. Plus playing against the best oline in the NFL (imo) and one of the best qbs was a recipe for disaster.

The Cowboys defense held their own last year for the most part and should be better this year.
 
@stasheroo Since you are talking about run defense - which I think is the X-factor this season - I wanted to throw this out there: I think the signing of Covington will have a big impact for the run defense.
I can see them using him & Woods together on early downs & short yardage situations.
Provided we don't get schemed out of our shoes again, I think the run defense could be really good. They had huge moments last year but need more consistency.
Having another squatty DT besides Woods should be a huge help IMO.
 
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